SEATTLE — Even though the numbers show that Nolan Schanuel is still riding something of a rollercoaster, the Angels’ rookie first baseman doesn’t feel that way.
Schanuel was lugging a 3-for-27 slump into this weekend’s series in Seattle, which was at least partly because he was trying to play through a sore left thumb that was bad enough for him to be a late scratch from Friday’s lineup.
Schanuel, however, said before news of his sore thumb was revealed that he’d actually been feeling better than his recent results.
“I feel like I got a little unlucky the last week,” Schanuel said. “But that’s baseball. I’m just starting to figure it out. If you cut out my first 50 at-bats, I would be a lot better off obviously. Once I started hitting that stretch where I was used to being back in the swing of things, I think I got a lot more consistent.”
Schanuel hit .093 in his first 54 plate appearances, and since then he’s hit .257 with a .662 OPS. Overall, he’s hitting .224 with five home runs and a .622 OPS.
None of that is going to win him any awards, but he’s still just 22 and less than a year removed from Florida Atlantic University.
One of the more puzzling elements of his game so far this season is that his walk rate is about half of what it was during his 29-game debut season in 2023.
“I would say I’ve been chasing a little bit, but at the same time I feel the strike zone has been a little bigger to be honest,” Schanuel said. “That’s just something we have to deal with every day.”
According to Statcast, Schanuel has seen the incorrect strike calls on him increase by about 1% from last year to this year. He has chased 22% of pitches out of the zone, up from 20% last year.
Manager Ron Washington said he believes pitchers are working Schanuel aggressively, and he needs to adjust.
“These guys haven’t been letting him get ahead in the count,” Washington. “They’ve been getting ahead right away, and they’re pounding him inside. Because of his inexperience, he’s worried about them getting him inside and he’s forgetting what he does well. He should never get off what he does very well.”
Washington said Schanuel has been missing the pitches away or fouling them off, inside of driving them for hits.
“He’s young,” Washington said. “And he’s never been challenged like this. So he’s going through some mind games with himself right now. And he’s got to win that mind game. Because there’s a lot of baseball left.”
Washington added that he’s been very pleased with Schanuel’s play at first base.
“I like his defense right now,” Washington said. “I haven’t seen many guys pick balls out of the dirt as easy as he does. And he’s been going to get a lot of pop-ups.”
BULLPEN SWITCH
Washington said they will begin using right-hander Carson Fulmer in higher-leverage spots while they shift struggling Adam Cimber to another role.
Cimber had a 2.60 ERA with six walks in his first 17⅓ innings, but he’s posted a 20.77 ERA with seven walks in his last 4⅓ innings.
Fulmer has a 2.66 ERA, although that’s been accumulated almost entirely in multi-inning, low-leverage spots.
Washington said they are giving Fulmer a shot instead of right-hander Roansy Contreras because Fulmer is “the next man in line.” Contreras has only pitched four innings with the Angels.
NOTES
Right fielder Jo Adell was not in the lineup on Friday. He has one hit and 15 strikeouts in his last 31 at-bats. Washington said he wanted to give him “a break, to settle his mind down a little bit.” He said Adell will be back in the lineup on Saturday. …
Right-hander Sam Bachman (shoulder surgery) came out of his first rehab outing on Thursday after three batters because of neck tightness. Bachman reported he was feeling “better” on Friday, according to the Angels’ medical report. His next outing is to be determined. …
Right-hander Chase Silseth (elbow inflammation) pitched three scoreless innings, with three strikeouts, on Friday in the Arizona Complex League. It was the first outing of his rehab assignment. …
Infielder Miguel Sanó (left knee inflammation) has been cleared for baseball activity, although he hasn’t yet returned to play in minor league games. Sanó’s rehab assignment was put on hold because of a burn on his leg from a heating pad. …
Infielder Ehire Adrianza (back spasms) is still not cleared for baseball activity. Adrianza hit 10 years of major league service time on Friday.
UP NEXT
Angels (LHP Reid Detmers, 3-5, 5.76 ERA) at Mariners (RHP Bryce Miller, 4-5, 3.48 ERA), Saturday, 4:15 p.m., Fox (Ch. 11), 830 AM